Question 1

aunt has lung cancer, having chemo, rushed back to hospital throwing up blood. ive been told good sign, means collapsed lung re-inflating. any advise?

Accepted Answer

Who said this?: If the doctor treating her right now said this was a good sign, then it likely is. Only the doc who's treating her for this now can give a decent idea. Unless the doc has communicated this to another doc or family member.  Maybe this sounds like a reasonable answer to vomiting blood to another doc, but it does not make a lot of sense to me. But, sometimes we don't remember all we were told exactly

Question 2

oncologists: does medical research identify a history of spontaneous pneumothorax as a risk factor for developing lung cancer later in one's life?

Accepted Answer

No: I can find no evidence for this.

Question 3

lingular atelectasis and lung cancer relationship?

Accepted Answer

The lingula is the: Smallest lung segment on the left side.  Atelectasis means collapse.  A central lung cancer could obstruct the airway and lead to collapse.

Question 4

i had a mcrp mri and it  showed non specific atelectasis bilateral lung bases.  could this be lung cancer or copd?

Accepted Answer

Not cancer: Atelectasis is not cancer. It is essentially a sign that some areas of your lungs are not getting as much air due to either blockage or restriction of some reason. This can be seen with foreign objects in airways, scarring, infiltration or poor lung airway movement.

Question 5

does no focal consolidation, no effusion, or obvious pneumothorax in x-ray mean i should not stress myself out about having lung cancer?

Accepted Answer

Stop worrying: This is good news. Try to stop smoking. One cause of a longstanding cough that baffles doctors is cough-variant asthma -- perhaps you have this. Best wishes.

Question 6

what are options for patient with stage 4 cancer and a collapsed lung?

Accepted Answer

Chest tube: I would consult with a thoracic surgeon regarding the collapsed lung. A small procedure could be performed to assist in inflating the lung, either by draining fluid or placing a chest tube.

Question 7

what are some choices for patient with stage 4 cancer and a collapsed lung?

Accepted Answer

Depends: If the lung is collapsed due a tumor in a bronchus (e.g. Breathing tube) it can sometimes be opened up with a short course of external radiation therapy or with internal radiation and removal of some of the tumor through a long thin scope put down through the nose into the lungs.  If it is collapsed due to fluid around the lung, sometimes draining it can help.

Question 8

can a 80 year old man with a collapsed lung and stage 3 cancer live long on life support?

Accepted Answer

It depends: Sorry to learn about your situation. If the cause of the collapse is from a procedure then life support is a temporary measure until the collapse resolves. 
If the tumor has caused the lung to collapse and he has other lung and heart trouble the outcome is likely to be very poor.
I would ask the oncologist for a frank answer to your question.

Question 9

hi. i had a chest xray on tues. results back on weds. doc told me its either a collapsed lung or cancer, could it be anything else?

Accepted Answer

A collapsed: Lung is serious. It can be caused by obstruction of a bronchial tube (aspirated foreign body, mucous, tumor). A pulmonary specialist can best give guidance.

Question 10

my chest x-ray showed something wrong but the ct scan was clear. what could it be? they thought it might be a collapsed lung or cancer. i have to wait a week to see the doctor. i am scared.

Accepted Answer

May be nothing: If the ct was done after the xray, then there is a good chance that there was nothing there.  Chest xrays occasionally suggest abnormalities that are not found on ct scans; however, the ct scan is much better at demonstrating pathology.  If the ct was normal, i wouldn't worry very much.  But, make sure you follow up with your doctor.

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Doctor answers about:

Collapsed lung with lung cancer

A member asked:

Aunt has lung cancer, having chemo, rushed back to hospital throwing up blood. ive been told good sign, means collapsed lung re-inflating. any advise?

A member asked:

Oncologists: does medical research identify a history of spontaneous pneumothorax as a risk factor for developing lung cancer later in one's life?

A member asked:

Lingular atelectasis and lung cancer relationship?

A member asked:

I had a mcrp mri and it showed non specific atelectasis bilateral lung bases. could this be lung cancer or copd?

A member asked:

Does no focal consolidation, no effusion, or obvious pneumothorax in x-ray mean i should not stress myself out about having lung cancer?

A member asked:

What are options for patient with stage 4 cancer and a collapsed lung?

A member asked:

What are some choices for patient with stage 4 cancer and a collapsed lung?

A member asked:

Can a 80 year old man with a collapsed lung and stage 3 cancer live long on life support?

A member asked:

Hi. i had a chest xray on tues. results back on weds. doc told me its either a collapsed lung or cancer, could it be anything else?

A member asked:

My chest x-ray showed something wrong but the ct scan was clear. what could it be? they thought it might be a collapsed lung or cancer. i have to wait a week to see the doctor. i am scared.

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